Floating wharf structure



April 14, 1964 E. M. UsAB 3,128,737

FLOATING WHARF STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.ERNEST M. US AB BY F ULWIDER.I MATTINGLY & HUNTLEY ATTORNEY FLOATINGWHARF' STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. 44 /0 aERNEST M. usAB F 7 BY FULWIDER, MATTINGLY a HUNTLEY ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent Oice 3,128,737 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 3,128,737 FLOATINGWHARF STRUCTURE Ernest M. Usab, Long Beach, Calif. (500 Via Malaga,Newport Beach, Calif.) Filed Sept. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 138,643 6 Claims.(Cl. 114.5)

The present invention relates to an improved floating wharf structuremade up of a plurality of concrete iloat units wherein the walkway isprovided by the top surfaces of the oat units themselves.

In my patent No. Re. 24,837, issued June 14, 1960', there is shown afloating wharf structure made up of concrete float units. These oatunits each take the form of a waterproof, hollow box whose top, bottom,side and end walls are made of reinforced concrete. Along each side ofthe box and adjacent to its top surface there is provided a row of boltswhich -are embedded in the concrete and protrude outwardly.- A number ofaligned individual ilo-at units are fastened together by utilizingwooden tie rails placed al-ong the sides of the oat units and secu-redto the bolts.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide an improvedfloating wharf structure of the -above nature lwherein cross rods areutilized as fastening means rather than bolts and the tie rails arefastened to the individual float units by such cross rods in a uniquemanner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvediloating wharf structure of the above nature utilizing a unique tie railarrangement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a loating Wharfstructure of the aforedescn'bed nature having maximum strength for agiven Weight and size.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lloating wharfstructure of the aforedescribed nat-ure capable of affording a long andtrouble-free service life, and having a low initial cost.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention 'willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, when taken inconjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of an improved floating wharf structureembodying the present invention, with the center portion thereof cutaway so as to show the interior of such structure;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a separate oat unit of such floatingWharf structure, such view being in enlarged scale relative to FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a central vertical sectional view taken through one of theindividual float units of FIGURES 2 and 3;

FIGURES 5 and I6 are diagrammatic showings of the forces created when afloating wharf structure of the type contemplated by the presentinvention is struck by a moving object such as a boat; and

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 7 7 of FIGURE `6.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGURE 1 thereof, there isshown Ia preferred form of iloating wharf structure constructed inaccordance with the present invention. This structure includes separateiloat units F-l, F-2 and tF-3, the right-hand side of iloat F-3 beingbroken away. These float units are aligned to provide a wharf or otherlike marine structure which may be of the type shown in my patentmentioned above. The float units F-l, F-Z and F-3 are tied together inaligned relationship by means of a pair of parallel tie rails T-1 andT-2. The tie rails T-ll and T2 are fastened to the sides of the separateiloat units by a plurality of cross rods '10 that extend transverselythrough the upper interior of each of such -oat units.

More particularly, each of the separate iioat -units F-l, F-2 and F-3are substantially identical and consist essentially of a hollow boxwhose length and width are substantially greater than its depth. Thetop, bottom, side and end walls of such box are made of reinforcedconcrete. A top slab 12 and a bottom slab 14 are parallel to one anothersince the box fhas a uniform depth throughout. End walls 16 and 18integrally interconnect the top and bottom portions of the box, with thebasic structure being completed by side Walls 20 and 22.

The concrete box units may be formed by any suitable method known tothose skilled in the art. Thus, such units m-ay either be of castmonolithic construction oraltern-atively they may be assembled fromseparate elements. Generally, itis desirable to reinforce the concretewalls as well as the top slab by corrosion resistant wire mesh screen30, or other reinforcing iilaments.

Preferably, .a reinforced concrete flange 3.1 protrudes outwardly fromthe sides of the box. A similar flange 32 protrudes from the endsthereof. These flanges provide an extension of the top surface of thebox. Altern-atively, these flanges may be formed on the inner portion ofthe upper walls of the box. 'I'he iianges 31 and 32 protect the top slab12 from bending or breaking and also form a bumper means to receiveimpacts, as Iwhere a boat is being docked.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 3, the opposite ends of the cross rods10 are disposed Within aligned sleeves y3-4 and 36 which may be castinto the side danges 31. The rods 10 are of metallic construction, as byway of example, galvanized steel. Suitable nuts 3'8 are adapted to Ibethreaded upon the opposite ends of each of the rods 10. Washers (notshown) may 'additionally be employed. It should be particularly notedthat the top slab 12 is provided with an integral depending reinforcingrib 40 aboveeach of the rods 10.

The tie rail T-1 is made up of a pair of abutting stringers 42 and 44.Similarly, the tie rail T-Z is made up of a pair of abutting stringers46 and 48.v These stringers are fabricated from a suitable wood, such astreated Douglas tir. As is well known, stringers of this nature arecommercially obtain-able in standard lengths of 116 feet. Although it ispossible to obtain longer lengths, the cost of such longer lengths isgenerally prohibitive. It is an important feature of the presentinvention that the stringers 42, 44, 46 and 48 have their endsstaggered, the stringers being of a length approximately twice thelength of each oat unit, the joints bet-Ween the ends of the stringersbeing longitudinally staggered a distance approximately the llenlgth ofeach of the oats. Thus, referring to IFIGURE 1, the outer stringers 42and 48 extend from the left-hand end of the float yF-1 to the midportionof the ioat F-2, as indicated by the joints 50 and 52. The endmost innerstringers 44 and 46 extend from the lefthand end of the float F-l to themidportion thereof, as indicated by the joints 54 and 56. The nextlengths of the inner stringers 44 and 46 extend from the joints 54 and56 past the right-hand end of the tloat F2 and abut other innerstringers at the sides of the dioat F-3, e.g. near the midpoint thereof,at junctions not shown. Hence, the joints between the ends of theStringer pieces are longitudinally staggered.

This arrangement insures maximum strength for the floating wharfstructure. It is this arrangement that causes any laterally directedload such as the impact of a moving boat to be transferred to thefloating wharf structure in compression. If the inner and outerstringers had their joints in lateral alignment the imposition of alaterally directed load could easily rupture such joint and cause theload to be applied to the floating wharf structure in tension. Concrete,as is well known, has little strength in tension but very substantialstrength in compression. Thus, it is exetremely desirable to avoidimposing tension upon a concrete structure of this nature. By way ofexample, attention is directed to FIG- URES 5 and 6. These figuresrepresent a diagrammatic showing of the forces created when a laterallydirected load, such as'` would be applied by a moving boat B, strikesone side of a floating wharf structure of this type. In FIGURE 5 the tierails' T-1' and T-Z are made up o'f stringers having their'joints inlongitudinal alignment. These joints are indicated by the referencenumerals 64 and 66, respectively. When a moving object such as a boat Bstrikes the tie rails T-2 a sharp laterally directed load is appliedagainst the float unit F-Z adjacent the point of impact 68. The load isin turn transferred across the float unit F-Z to the opposite tie railT-1 (upwardly relative to the drawings). So long as the jointv 64retains its integrity the tie rail T-1' will remain substantiallyparallel with its respective side of the float F-Z. If, however, thejoint 64 is ruptured the tie rail T-l will no longer be able to restrainmovement of the float unit F-Z' away from the moving boat B. The side ofthe float unit F-Z' adjacent the tie rail T-l will then be placed intension as indicated by the double-headed arrows in the upper portion ofFIGURE 5. The application of this tensional force may readily rupturethe concrete, as indicated at 70, inasmuch as concrete has veryv littlestrength in tension.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, there is shown a floating wharf structurewherein the joints between the tie rail stringers are longitudinallystaggered in the manner indicated particularlyin FIGURE 1. With thisarrangement, the laterally directed load applied by a moving object suchas a boat B is transferred in compression across the float F`2. The tierail T-1 in the case of FIGURE 6 will take the tension and will restrainlateral movement of the float unit in a direction away from the boat B.Because of the improved strength where the joints in the tie railstringers are longitudinally staggered rather than being in-line, thetie rail T-1 can resist considerably more force than if the joints werelongitudinally aligned as in the case of the structure of FIGURE 5 Thus,the tie rail T-1 will hold under almost any normal situation.

It is important to note that the tie rail T-1 will impose solely acompressional load upon the adjacent side of the float F-2, as indicatedby the" arrows in the upper portion of FIGURE 6. In this regardattention is now directed to FIGURE 7. As shown in this figure anytendency of the tie rail T-l to be displaced outwardly (to the left inthis figure) will be resisted by the cross rods 10, the latter beingplaced in tension. This tensional force will be transferred by the crossrods across the float unit to the inner stringer 46 so as to urge suchstringer to the left. The stringers movement will be resisted by thereinforced upper portion of the side wall 22 and more particularly bythe top slab and its depending reinforcing ribs 40, such members beingplaced in compression. In this regard, it should be notedthat thepositioning of the cross rods 10 below the ribs 40 of the top slabprovides maximum strength for the top slab adjacent the cross rods.Also, that the cross rods 10 serve as tension transfer elements in thatthey transfer tensional forces from the tie rails on one side to the tierails on the opposite side.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to theforegoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A floatable wharf structure for use on a body of water subject towave action, said Wharf structure cornprising: a plurality of wide floatunits of shallow depth each comprising concrete bottom and top wallsjoined by concrete side and end walls to form a chamber of sufficientsize to provide buoyancy to such float unit, said floats being alignedend to end in adjoining relation in a single series, each float havingopposed pairs of axiallyaligned openings through said side walls openinginwardly on said chamber, the outer ends of said openings openingoutwardly of said side walls; and connection means for flexiblyinterconnecting said float units in such aligned end to end series withthe ends of adjacent float units closely adjacent and with the floatunits of said series capable of undergoing relative deflection due tosaid wave action, said connection means including two long narrowflexible tie rail means each of a width only a small fraction of thewidth of said float units respectively on opposite sides of said alignedfloat units extending continuously from end to end of said series andbeing of substantially uniform cross-sectional area throughout theirlengths, a plurality of transverse tension elements extending acrosseach float unit at anchor positions spaced therealong, each tie railmeans being formed of inner and outer stringer means each formed ofwooden stringers disposed end to end with the joints between the ends ofthe stringers of the inner and outer stringer means being longitudinallystaggered, each wooden stringer being of a length approximately twicethe length of each float unit, said joints being staggered a distanceapproximately the length of each of said float units, each stringerhaving openings in each of the respective halves thereof receivingtension elements of two adjoining float units, and enlargements on theends of each tension element respecf tively bearing against said tierail means, said enlargements placing said tension elements in tensionand holding the tie rail means firmly to the sides of said float unitsat said anchor positions and in sealing relationship with said outerends of said side-wall openings while placing the concrete of said floatunits between said enlargements in compression, the Vflexibility of saidtie rail means between the closest anchor positions of adjacent floatunits of said series permitting said relative deflection in response towave action.

2. A floatable wharf structure as defined in claim l including sleevemeans castin the opposed side walls of each float unit with axesextending laterally of such float unit, said sleeve means forming saidaxially aligned openings, the outer ends of said sleeve means engagingsaid tie rail means, said sleeve means having passages only slightlylarger than the corresponding tension elements to receive same.

3. A floatable wharf structure as defined in claim l in which theopposed side walls of each float unit include pairs of aligned sleevescast in and transversing such walls and opening on said chamber, saidaligned sleeves forming said axially aligned openings, the alignedsleeves of each pair having passages only slightly larger than acorresponding tension element to receive same.

4. A floatable wharf structure for use on a body of water subject towave action, said wharf structure comprising: a plurality of float unitseach comprising con crete bottom and top walls joined by concrete sideand end walls to form a chamber of sufficient sizeto provide buoyancy tosuch float unit, each float unit being formed with a reinforcing flangeadjacent the junction of each side wall and said` top wall, the top wallof each float unit including a plurality of transverse concretereinforcing ribs depending in said chamber and extending between theopposed side walls of the float unit; and connection means for flexiblyinterconnecting said float units in aligned end to end series with theends of adjacent float units closely adjacent and with the float unitsof said series capable of undergoing relative deflection due to saidwave action, said connection means including two long flexible tie railmeans respectively on opposite sides of said aligned float unitsextending continuously from end to end of said series, each tie railmeans including inner and outer stringer means each formed of stringersdisposed' end toendwith the joints between the ends of the stringers ofthe inner and outer stringer means being longitudinally staggered, aplurality of transverse cross rods extending across each loat unitthrough the chamber thereof at positions respectively below saidconcrete reinforcing ribs, said stringers having openings aligned withthe ends of said cross rods receiving same, and enlargements on the endsof each cross rod bearing against said tie rail means, at least one ofsaid enlargements comprising a nut threaded to the corresponding end ofthe cross rod to tension same and hold said tie rail means firmly to thesides of said float units while placing the intervening concrete incompression, the flexibility of said tie rail means between the closestcross rods of adjacent float units comprising the sole flexibleconnection thereof permitting said relative deilection in response towave action.

5. A iloatable wharf structure for use on a body of water subject towave action, said wharf structure comprising: a plurality of float unitseach comprising concrete bottom and top walls joined by concrete sideand end walls to form a chamber of sufficient size to provide buoyancyto such iloat unit; connection means for flexibly interconnecting saidiloat units in aligned end-to-end series with the ends of adjacent oatunits closely adjacent and with the float units of said series capableof undergoing relative deflection due to said wave action, saidconnection means including two long flexible tie rail means respectivelyon opposite sides of said aligned iloat units extending continuouslyfrom end to end of said series and being of substantially uniformcross-sectional area throughout their lengths, a plurality of transversetension elements extending across each float unit at positions spacedtherealong, said flexible tie rail means having openings aligned withthe ends of said tension elements receiving same, and enlargements onthe ends of each tension element respectively bearing against said tierail means, said enlargements placing said tension elements in tensionand holding the tie rail means lirmly to the sides of said float unitswhile placing the concrete of said iloat units between said enlargementsin compression, the flexibility of said tie rail means permitting saidrelative deflection in respense to wave action; and a transverseconcrete reinforcing rib in vertical alignment with each tension elementand extending between said side walls of the float unit, each transverseconcrete rib being placed in compression by the tension in thecorresponding tension element.

6. A iloatable wharf structure for use on a body of water subject towave action, said wharf structure comprising: a plurality of iloat unitseach comprising concrete bottom and top walls joined by concrete sideand end walls to form a chamber of suillcient size to provide buoyancyto such float unit; connection means for flexibly interconnecting saidfloat units in aligned end-to-end series with the ends of adjacent floatunits closely adjacent and with the float units of said series capableof undergoing relative deflection due to said wave action, saidconnection means including two long flexible tie rail means respectivelyon opposite sides of said aligned float units extending continuouslyfrom end to end of said series and being of substantially uniformcross-sectional area throughout their lengths, a plurality of transversetension elements extending across each float unit through the chamberthereof at positions spaced therealong, said flexible tie rail meanshaving openings aligned with the ends of said tension elements receivingsame, and enlargements on the ends of each tension element respectivelybearing against said tie rail means, said enlargements placing saidtension elements in tension and holding the tie rail means firmly to thesides of said iloat units while placing the concrete of said float unitsbetween said enlargements in compression, the flexibility of said tierail means permitting said relative deflection in response to waveaction; and a number of longitudinally spaced concrete reinforcing ribsdepending in the chamber of each float unit extending therethroughrespectively above said tension elements and corresponding in number tosuch tension elements, each reinforcing rib extending between theopposed side walls of the float unit and being placed in compression bythe tension in the corresponding tension element.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.24,837 Usab lune 14, 1960 1,495,896 Ferguson May 27, 1924 2,251,578Rietzke Aug. 5, 1941 2,760,450 Findleton Aug. 28, 1956 2,890,880 HompeJune 16, 1959 2,892,433 Walker June 30, 1959 3,012,533 Tellefsen Dec.12, 1961

1. A FLOATABLE WHARF STRUCTURE FOR USE ON A BODY OF WATER SUBJECT TOWAVE ACTION, SAID WHARF STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF WIDE FLOATUNITS OF SHALLOW DEPTH EACH COMPRISING CONCRETE BOTTOM AND TOP WALLSJOINED BY CONCRETE SIDE AND END WALLS TO FORM A CHAMBER OF SUFFICIENTSIZE TO PROVIDE BUOYANCY TO SUCH FLOAT UNIT, SAID FLOATS BEING ALIGNEDEND TO END IN ADJOINING RELATION IN A SINGLE SERIES, EACH FLOAT HAVINGOPPOSED PAIRS OF AXIALLYALIGNED OPENINGS THROUGH SAID SIDE WALLS OPENINGINWARDLY ON SAID CHAMBER, THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID OPENINGS OPENINGOUTWARDLY OF SAID SIDE WALLS; AND CONNECTION MEANS FOR FLEXIBLYINTERCONNECTING SAID FLOAT UNITS IN SUCH ALIGNED END TO END SERIES WITHTHE ENDS OF ADJACENT FLOAT UNITS CLOSELY ADJACENT AND WITH THE FLOATUNITS OF SAID SERIES CAPABLE OF UNDERGOING RELATIVE DEFLECTION DUE TOSAID WAVE ACTION, SAID CONNECTION MEANS INCLUDING TWO LONG NARROWFLEXIBLE TIE RAIL MEANS EACH OF A WIDTH ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THEWIDTH OF SAID FLOAT UNITS RESPECTIVELY ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID ALIGNEDFLOAT UNITS EXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY FROM END TO END OF SAID SERIES ANDBEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THROUGHOUT THEIRLENGTHS, A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSE TENSION ELEMENTS EXTENDING ACROSSEACH FLOAT UNIT AT ANCHOR POSITIONS SPACED